B 24 GR8 KK299 - The Kattegat - The
long version På
dansk
Updated: 08
JAN 2010
"5 May 1945 (19.39 hours). Kattegat NE of Anholt. Consolidated Liberator GR. VIII,
KK299 (2V-
). 547 Squadron, 18 Coastal Group, Leuchars, Fifeshire.
On 5 May 1945 at 08.00 hours the German forces in
The Netherlands, North west Germany and Denmark surrendered. The Admiralty of
the Royal Navy
discontinued In the evening Liberator KH347 from 86 Squadron discovered 4 German U-boats north east of Anholt. 3 more Liberators were called in over the radio, and the 4 planes started circling around the German U-boats out of range. At 19.30 hours one of the U-boats opened fire against a Liberator. Pilot, F/Lt George William Hill of KK299 immediately attacked and dropped a bomb which detonated only 6 m from U-534. On this U-boat the captain, Kapitänleutnant Herbert Nollau gave the order to open fire, and during its second attack KK299 was hit and crashed, burning, into the sea about 3 nautical miles from the U-boat.
Then W/O Nichol and Captain Lionel Fowler from 86 Squadron
and F/Lt Thompson from
206 Squadron attacked. Wt/O Nichol hit U-534 which blew up and sank.
During this rescue operation the body of Navigator,
F/Lt Reginald James Allen from KK299 was
retrieved. On 6 May the German ships arrived at Århus, and the Wireless operator, W/O Arthur John Dale was found at Hals. He was buried in Aalborg New Cemetery on 14 May 1945." (FT 91-11-58) |